Magic: Ice boating in Michigan

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

2006_01_20icebt042

2006_01_20icebt042, photo by gretchdorian.

Gretchen Dorian has a great set of photos from a day of DN ice boating at Indian Lake State Park near Manistique. – makes a great slideshow!

Michigan has a long history of iceboating. The Detroit News’ excellent Rearview Mirror series includes Sailing on Lake St. Clair’s icy winter winds. They write that ice boating or ice yachting began over 4000 years ago in Northern Europe and was a source of entertainment in Michigan lumber camps. DN IceboatThe article also relates what the “DN” you see on so many ice boat sails stands for:

During the winter of 1936-37, in the sawdust covered hobby shop of the Detroit News, master craftsman Archie Arroll along with ice boaters Joseph Lodge and Norman Jarrait designed a racing ice boat they called the Blue Streak 60. Later the craft would come to be called the DN 60, the DN standing for the Detroit News, and the 60 referring to the size of the sail. Howard Boston, whose family remains in the sailing business, helped construct the first sails. (Doyle Boston Sailmakers of Holland)

Ice Boating Timeline reminds us not to forget about the other side of the state and Gull Lake and (as usual) Wikipedia can tell you more about iceboats & iceboating.

Update: I was just sent a nice video featuring Jack Jacobs (owner of Magic) talking about ice boating.

Happy Valentines Day, Michigan!

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Duckie Love

Duckie Love, photo by suesue2.

This was the first picture that I saw this morning. Then I went wandering around for an hour or so looking for a picture that would somehow capture the essence of Valentines Day as it relates to Michigan.

Then I looked again and realized that all it is really about is having and showing a little more love, whenever and wherever possible.

Happy Valentines Day, Michigan!

We interrupt this winter to bring you the following special bulletin

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

run~~~~~~~~~~~~

run~~~~~~~~~~~~, photo by noxipoo.

According to the DNR’s Park List, Warren Dunes State Park provides 1,952 acres of recreational opportunities along the beautiful shore of Lake Michigan in southwestern Michigan. The rugged dune formation rises 260 feet above the lake and offers spectacular views and excellent for hang gliding. The park has three miles of shoreline, six miles of hiking trails and is open year-round.

So you could go out there and enjoy the dunes in winter too … just be sure to dress a little warmer. This photo makes an excellent background for seasonally affected desktops as well!

 

Looking Back on Detroit’s Super Bowl

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Winterblast

Winterblast, photo by Allan M.

Allan’s photo of the brightly lit Detroit Winter Blast festivities was the most popular photo for “Super Bowl XL” on Flickr.

I’m wondering one year later, how you think the Super Bowl impacted the city of Detroit. I asked someone the other day what they recall and (to my less than surprise) they took home “Jerome Bettis is from Detroit“. Did it make a difference for the city of Detroit and Michigan? Post your thoughts in the comments!

You can get a bunch more photos from the 2006 Super Bowl on Michigan in Pictures and read a locker room full of Super Bowl XL articles at Absolute Michigan.

Lawndale Market: Detroit’s Polaroid Paradise

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Lawndale Market by Ryan Keberly

One of my goals with Michigan in Pictures this year is to bring in more photos and photographers from all over Michigan and I can’t think of a better place to start than at Lawndale Market. Ryan Keberly writes:

Every inch of the Lawndale Market was covered in Polaroid photos — the bottle return, deli counter, ceiling, refrigerators and cigarette racks.

Each Polaroid (approximately 10,000 total) was preciously customized in ball-point pen with the date, subject’s name and the title “Gold Loves Me.”

You can see more photos at Lawndale Market on Ryan’s site, read an article about Lawndale Market from Metro Times Detroit or use this map to Lawndale Market from the Google to drive there.

Ryan Keberly is a freelance photographer and web designer who has put together some great sites including Snowsuit.net (on permanent hiatus but still amazing) and Spouse Notes (postings of notes from one loved one to another). Find a bunch more sites and photo collections at Ryan Keberly Photography.

Like all photos on Michigan in Pictures, this photo is copyrighted to the photographer. As Ryan’s site so simply reminds us: “Don’t steal. Ever.”

.closed for the season.

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

.closed for the season.

.closed for the season., photo by tEdGuY49.

According to the tags, this photo was taken along US-23 in (or near) the town of Oscoda on the Lake Huron shore.

I kind of sat on this photo for a couple weeks as I had just blogged one from Ted. Looking back through the pictures from Ted that we’ve featured, I realize that he has a special gift for seeing the bright things.

Holler: Detroit Photos + Detroit Cobras

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Edited Dec 20, 2014: Unfortunately the photo that was featured here was deleted. Here’s the video instead…

Absolute Michigan’s first Michigan photo-video titled Holler: Detroit Photos + Detroit Cobras featuring great photos of the Motor City and a rockin’ Detroit Cobras tune.

Thanks to all the photographers who shared work that is in here and also to those who did but aren’t (there’s over 1500 pics of Detroit in the Absolute Michigan pool!)

PS: There’s 20,000+ pics of Detroit now!!

Happy Thanksgiving, Michigan

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Becky's New Art Medium

Becky’s New Art Medium, photo by dailyinvention.

Stefan says Becky actually constructed the apple out of dough herself. She’s a fairly talented illustrator and a great cook.

Indeed. I’d like to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving and I hope that the holiday finds you with family and friends and food and good cheer.

All of us involved in the Michigan in Pictures / Absolute Michigan project are truly thankful for all you wonderful folks who help us serve up a big Michigan feast by providing photos, thoughts and support to our efforts.

A Little Lomo from Grand Rapids, Michigan

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

A Little Lomo

A Little Lomo, photo by docksidepress.

Well, this isn’t actually from a Lomo camera, but it certainly has a Lomo vibe.

What the heck is this Lomo, anyway? The best place to find out is at the Lomographic Society International where you can learn about the Lomo’s birth in the LOMO Russian Arms and Optical factory (where the Lomo Compact Automat was born) and subsequent rise to world domination. Almost at least.

Be sure to click on the 10 Golden Rules, where you learn to Take your camera everywhere you go, to shoot from the hip and generally chuck everything you know about photography out the window.

Reading about lomography really made me smile … maybe it will make you smile too.

West Michigan Whitecaps Win!

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Untitled, photo by emjsmith.

Despite the risk of becoming “that Michigan baseball photo blog”, we have to give a “way to go” to the West Michigan Whitecaps who captured their 4th Midwest League Championship on Saturday at Comstock Park in Grand Rapids. According to the Whitecaps web site, the 89-48 Caps jumped out to an early 8-0 lead and cruised to an 8-4 win over Kane County to win their 4th championship in their 13 year history.

Today’s photo is part of a great set of celebration photos by Emily Smith. Emily photographs the Whitecaps for Major League Baseball and you can (and should) see more of her baseball and non-baseball work on her photography site.

The Whitecaps are the Class A minor league affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, and the Freep says the AAA Toledo Mudhens joined the Whitecaps in winning a championship this weekend. (click the photo below for pics from the Mudhens game!) The Tigers farm system notched the the second-best combined winning percentage this year.